Last updated: October 2021
The project focuses on the conservation of a locally rare plant (Dictamnus albus L.) and the community of its natural pollinators. At present, European natural populations of Dictamnus albus are declining because of the scarcity of pollination service; in addition to this, suitable habitats (woodland fringes and clearings) are becoming rare due to land-use changes as a result of the abandonment of traditional agro-sylvo-pastoral activities. This project assesses these issues by re-introducing and monitoring the plant in its natural habitat while re-establishing a suitable habitat for the plants and their natural pollinators (1).
DICTAMNUS LIFE09/NAT/IT000212 (2012)
Photographer: Francesca Rovetti, retrieved 07/27/2018 from Marta Galloni
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Other
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Focus
Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
Project objectives
The main objectives of this project (LIFE09/NAT/IT000212) are to ensure the persistence of an isolated population of Dictamnus albus, located in a protected area (Parco Regionale dei Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell’Abbadessa) included in the Natura2000 network (pSCI IT4050001) by re-creating an ideal habitat for the plants to thrive, and to restore the community of its natural pollinators (1).
Implementation activities
At the beginning of the project the habitat will be managed in order to establish the best environmental condition for the future persistence of the target plant population. Two wood clearings of 16 square meters have been identified as suitable habitat for D. albus, and cleared in order to stimulate future plant reproduction.
During the first year (March-Sept 2011), seeds of other nectariferous species were collected, planted and germinated (Sept 2011- March 2012) at the Botanic Garden of Bologna (University of Bologna) in order to obtain adult individuals available for the following plantation. These plants were used to assure the presence of effective pollinators introduced in the target area.
For all the duration of the project, the fitness of the plant and the presence of its effective pollinators were monitored; pollinator insects in the target area were also monitored, to evaluate the impact of the intervention on the pollinating fauna (1).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore valued species
- Restore ecological connectivity
Main beneficiaries
- Researchers/University
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Researchers/university
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Three institutions are involved in the PP-ICON project: Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna as Coordinating Beneficiary (Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Botanic Garden – Sistema Museale d’Ateneo), Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura(CRA, Unità di Apicoltura) and Fondazione Villa Ghigi as Associated Beneficiaries (1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity (LIFE09/NAT/IT000212) supports projects that contribute to the implementation of the EU’s “Birds” (79/409/CEE) and “Habitats” (92/43/CE) Directives, the “Natura 2000” network of protected areas, and that contribute to the EU’s goal of halting the loss of biodiversity (1).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Donations
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased number of protection areas
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
Yes
References
1. Universita di Bologna (no date), PP-ICON - Plant-Pollinator Integrated CONservation approach: a demonstrative proposal, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
2. Galloni, M., Bertolotti, L. (2014), Results and good practices of the project Life+ PP-ICON (includes timetable), Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
3. Univerita di Bologna (2015), Plant Pollinator Integrated CONservation approach: a demonstrative proposal (final report), Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
4. Bortolotti et al (2016), Conservation Evidence ( Scientific paper on pollination effects) Uploaded pdf
5. Universita di Bologna (no date), Leaflet, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
6. Universita di Bologna (2015), Final Report Covering the project activities from 01/01/2011 to 30/06/2015, After-Life communication Plan, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
7. Universita di Bologna (2015), Technical report, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
8. YouTube (2015), Dissemination video of the European LIFE+Project PP-ICON (Plant-Pollinator Integrated CONservation approach: a demonstrative proposal - LIFE09/NAT/IT000212, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
9. Universita di Bologna et al (no date), Layman’s report, Available at Source link, (Accessed 19-6-2020)
2. Galloni, M., Bertolotti, L. (2014), Results and good practices of the project Life+ PP-ICON (includes timetable), Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
3. Univerita di Bologna (2015), Plant Pollinator Integrated CONservation approach: a demonstrative proposal (final report), Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
4. Bortolotti et al (2016), Conservation Evidence ( Scientific paper on pollination effects) Uploaded pdf
5. Universita di Bologna (no date), Leaflet, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
6. Universita di Bologna (2015), Final Report Covering the project activities from 01/01/2011 to 30/06/2015, After-Life communication Plan, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
7. Universita di Bologna (2015), Technical report, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
8. YouTube (2015), Dissemination video of the European LIFE+Project PP-ICON (Plant-Pollinator Integrated CONservation approach: a demonstrative proposal - LIFE09/NAT/IT000212, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
9. Universita di Bologna et al (no date), Layman’s report, Available at Source link, (Accessed 19-6-2020)
DICTAMNUS LIFE09/NAT/IT000212 (2015)
Photographer: Laura Bortolotti, retrieved 07/27/2018 from Marta Galloni
DICTAMNUS LIFE09/NAT/IT000212 (2013)
Photographer: Francesca Rovetti, retrieved 07/27/2018 from Marta Galloni